There was a time, not so long ago, when energy was so dense that liberation seemed possible only by escaping society's chains. The only refuge was an ashram or monastery. We live in much less dense times now. Yes, the world has an incredible amount of upheaval and chaos. But when higher energy comes into density, it shakes loose all the dirt. It is a necessary part of raising the frequency of mass consciousness.

Modern Shift

A more significant shift is currently underway. Meditation and mindfulness have become household words, and more and more people are becoming aware that they are so much more than just their mind, emotions, and body. What used to take countless lifetimes can now be achieved in one.

The Shortcut

The path to Self-Realization is indeed simpler now. It's not necessarily easy, but there is a 'shortcut' we can use. If you are interested, read on.

Nisargadatta's "I AM" Method

The 'shortcut' has been called different names by different Sages, such as Abiding in Self, Self-Remembering, God Presence, and Self-Presence. I will use Self-Presence in this article. There are variations of practices and methods of Self-Presence, but for this article, let's use Nisargadatta Maharaj's technique.

Nisargadatta Maharaj was an Indian spiritual teacher known for his direct approach to non-dual awareness. His most well-known work, I Am That, is a collection of dialogues that emphasize self-inquiry and the realization of one's true nature beyond the ego.

"All you have to do is to give attention to the 'I am'." — Nisargadatta Maharaj

Nisargadatta's approach was straightforward and practical: Anchor yourself in the pure feeling of "I am," minus your backstory. There is no big show, no complicated rituals. Think of it as tapping into a hidden wellspring of the bigger Self that you are beyond mind and physicality.

You hold the feeling-sense of "I am," your existence as the unbounded Self, and let other noise fall away. Modern mindfulness research shows similar results — focusing on a single anchor (like your breath) reduces stress and brings clarity. Nisargadatta took that to the next level by reminding us we're not our bodies, jobs, or relationships. Instead, we're the steady awareness (I AM or Self) behind everything. Over time, this practice dissolves the ego's illusions. Your seat of the Self moves from the mental body full of ego to the unlimited I AM.

"The consciousness in you and the consciousness in me, apparently two, really one, seek unity and that is love." — Nisargadatta Maharaj

Getting Out Of Your Head: Living From Center

Recognizing your true Self is a shift that can redirect how you function day to day. Let's call that living from center in Self-Presence. It's a transformation that can inspire and motivate you.

• Act from Core, Not Cravings: When your actions align with your deepest intuition rather than a need for approval or fear of failure, they carry a natural power. This brings efficiency and flow as you move in harmony with your true Self, the I AM. There's efficiency and a natural flow. You're no longer forcing life to bend to the small will of your false ego self; you're aligning with what feels genuinely authentic, expansive, and purposeful — your true Self, the I AM.
• Tune into Inner Alarms: If you catch yourself itching with stress, resentment, or the need to please, that's your signal you might have drifted from presence. It's like your body's early warning system. Feel it, pause, re-center on "I am."
• Stop Fueling the Ego: Overthinking, judging, craving — these routines gobble up precious energy. By returning attention again and again to your real center, you starve those patterns. The ego eventually gets quieter, allowing the presence of Self to flow in.

By shifting into Self-Presence, you start noticing how ego has shaped your perceptions and behaviors. This transition can initially feel unsettling, but it is necessary to dissolve old conditioning.

Why Ego Gets In The Way

The ego shapes our usual way of living. Most of us identify with the swirl of our thoughts — "I'm not enough," "I'm a failure," "I must prove my worth." Yet the real you lives beneath that surface chatter. Nisargadatta called it the sense of "I AM": the raw, unfiltered awareness that's always present once you strip away labels. Neuroscientists might describe it as a shift away from obsessing over negative self-talk and into a more grounded state — where the chatter of the prefrontal cortex quiets down, and your brain's deeper resources come online. Either way, it's the real you.

Impact: Dissolving Ego, Unlocking Abundance

What happens when you center your life around self-presence?

• Egoic Patterns Fade: If you're no longer glued to negative stories about yourself, life no longer tosses you around like a rag doll. With less ego-fueling drama, those limiting beliefs — "I'm not lovable," "I can't do this," "I'll never earn enough" — begin dissolving on their own.
• You Draw in the Good Stuff: Like in peak-performance research where athletes talk about "flow states" that attract game-changing outcomes, living from your true center opens doors. You find yourself bumping into supportive people, better career pathways, and experiences that align with who you are. You're resonating at the level of genuine authenticity, and the world responds in kind.
• Boosted Vitality: There's a real bodily payoff when you drop anxiety and false drama. Without the constant stress spikes, your immune system can strengthen, energy goes up, and you feel more alive — again, not by forced hustle but by letting your real essence power you.

Tools to Let Self-Presence Emerge

You don't need to buy a library of self-help books or chant for hours. Just start with these fundamental steps:

1. Meditate on the feeling sense of "I Am." Every day, carve out minutes — even if it's five — to linger in that raw sense of being. Let outside thoughts roam without hooking you.
2. Check Motives on the Fly. In a significant conversation or a casual email, pause: Are you acting from an old habit or genuine presence? If it's ego, shift back to "I AM."
3. Let Emotions Pass. Stress, anger, or fear aren't your enemy. They're signals. Observe them, realize they aren't "you," and let them flow through. Self-Presence returns when you stop turning these emotions into identity.
4. Keep It Simple and Patient. Neuroscience shows new neural wiring takes repetition and time. It's the same here. Return to "I AM" whenever you remember. Over days and weeks, your new baseline becomes calmer and more aligned.

Why It Matters

When the Seat of Self moves from the small self to the Unlimited Self — who you truly are — your base frequency rises, and your perception expands. You increasingly realize who you are (your personality, self, and body) and What you are (pure awareness, I AM consciousness). Your spiritual journey accelerates. You no longer let the ego push you around. You unlock a direct path to genuine fulfillment. You move from Karma's painful path to Dharma's loving path.

Your only task now is to let presence pour through you — again and again until it becomes your natural state. Trust the unfolding, and watch as life aligns with your true essence.

"Wisdom is knowing I am nothing, Love is knowing I am everything, and between the two my life moves." — Nisargadatta Maharaj

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